After Losing, Wisconsin Republicans Are Trying to Subvert Democracy. They Will Fail.
The request for this early voting crackdown was made by Robin Vos’ office a mere eight days after the election. [In These Times]
Voting Rights & Election Protection
Lame-duck limits on early voting – and the arguments for them – resemble ones already rejected by a judge
The lawsuit that resulted in the earlier limits being struck down was brought by two liberal groups. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
UNSPUN: December 12, 2018
Tensions are running high in state politics as Governor Scott Walker considers a package of bills passed in a special legislative session. [WMTV-TV]
Courts likely to strike down Republican lame-duck power grabs, experts say
A 2011 lawsuit filed by One Wisconsin [Institute] resulted in a federal judge striking down Wisconsin Republicans’ attempts to suppress the vote. [the Guardian]
‘It’s a hot mess’: Tony Evers urges Scott Walker to veto GOP lame duck proposals limiting his powers on ‘Meet the Press’
Ross was especially critical of a provision in the plans to limit early voting to two weeks. It has been as much as six weeks. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Tony Evers ‘not particularly encouraged’ by chat with Scott Walker on vetoing GOP lame-duck bills
Scot Ros told Gousha that Republicans are "attacking early voting" and defying the judge's order in the 2016 case. [Wisconsin State Journal]
Power Grabs in Wisconsin & Michigan
Power Grabs in Wisconsin and Michigan. Guest 1: Analiese Eicher, Program Director, One Wisconsin Now. [Progressive Voices Network]
Activist group eyes legal action
One Wisconsin Now says Republicans are attacking access to voting by placing new limits on early voting. [WISN-TV]
Opponents look at legal options as they await Scott Walker’s actions on lame-duck bills
One Wisconsin Institute has signaled it may rekindle its legal fight against the early voting restrictions. [Wisconsin State Journal]
In light of lame-duck session, demonstrators hold “Respect our Vote” rally at Capitol
"They have hidden behind closed doors and in secret to conspire and contrast a direct assault on the peaceful transition of power." [WISC-TV]
County clerks fear early voting bill could become “very complicated”
In 2016, One Wisconsin Now filed a lawsuit after Republican’s tried a similar measure to curtail early voting. [WKOW-TV]
Walker likely to sign legislation to balance power in state government
The liberal group One Wisconsin Now tweeted Wednesday that it was already in consultation with attorneys. [Wisconsin Watchdog]
Wisconsin Schools the Nation on Hypocrisy and Partisan Power Grabs
"More than 565,000 people early voted in the November 2018 election. Record-setting early voting is not an emergency -- it's democracy," [Center for Media and Democracy]
Lame-duck session: Early voting limits sow confusion in advance of February election
The attorney for the organization that filed the lawsuit, One Wisconsin Institute, has vowed to challenge the latest restriction. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Wisconsin’s extraordinary session: Is absentee voting a fairness issue?
One Wisconsin Now ... said it would likely sue over the new cap, too, after the bill is signed. [Capital Times]
Winners and losers: Vos and Fitzgerald get what they want, plus a public outcry, in lame-duck session
One Wisconsin Now ... sound like they are chomping at the bit to challenge the grab bag of GOP goodies. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Controversial lame-duck proposals now in Scott Walker’s hands as Democratic groups eye lawsuits
Others, including the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, have indicated they plan to file lawsuits over the proposals [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Wis. lawmakers limit Governor’s power in marathon lame-duck session
Republicans are thumbing their noses at a federal judge's order and we are conferring with our counsel about next steps. [WTMJ-TV]
Capitol “coup”
One Wisconsin Institute is considering challenging the new early voting restrictions. [Isthmus]
Opponents consider lawsuits if lame-duck legislation becomes law
Analiese Eicher said the liberal advocacy organization is willing to take any legal action necessary. [WKOW-TV]
While Wisconsin Slept Republicans Rejected Will of Voters and Worked Against Orderly Transition of Power
While Wisconsin slept last night, Republicans worked behind closed doors on schemes to reject the results of the November 2018 midterm elections.
Democratic leaders, protesters fire up crowd for fight with GOP
“Republicans like Robin Vos and Scott Fitzgerald want to end that because they think the problem with these elections was that too many people voted.” [Capital Times]
Citizen Rights Group Call on WI Legislature to “Respect Our Votes”
"The underlying theme though that it's just incredibly disrespectful to the 2.6 million-plus voters who cast a ballot in this most recent election.” [Public News Service]
Will Republican Legislature Risk Contempt With Scheme to Enact New Limits on Early Voting?
A federal court ruling in the voting rights case struck down racially-motivated restrictions on early voting imposed by Wisconsin Republicans.
‘This is not democracy’: Republicans try to shrink power of incoming Democrats
Republicans believe they lost the November election because too many people voted here, and are trying to undo the results of the vote. [the Guardian]
Wisconsin GOP uses rare session to weaken incoming governor
One Wisconsin Now said the Republican’s latest effort shows they “refuse to accept the results of the 2018 elections” and are worried about large voter turnout. [Associated Press]
GOP-held state legislatures in Wisconsin and Michigan are trying to limit new Democratic governors’ powers
“It is clearly partisan, and it’s motivated by results of the election. It’s a sore loser session,” One Wisconsin Now, told The Fix. [Washington Post]
Dems Threaten Lawsuits As WI GOP Plows Ahead With Lame Duck Power Grab
Republicans “are trying to undo the results of the November 2018 elections...” Scot Ross, director of One Wisconsin Now, said in a Monday press call. [Talking Points Memo]
Eight Days After November Election Republican Assembly Leader Robin Vos Requested New Restrictions on Early Voting
Robin Vos and his fellow Republicans are playing with legal fire as they keep trying to rig the rules on voting to give themselves an unfair advantage.
Josh Kaul, Tony Evers slam lame-duck session
Josh Kaul is warning Republican efforts to strip some of his authority are likely to embroil Wisconsin in a legal battle. [Wisconsin State Journal]
Incoming attorney general slams GOP plan to curb his powers, says it subverts democracy
Over the weekend, an attorney for the liberal group One Wisconsin Institute said it would bring a legal challenge to the limit on early voting if it passes. The group successfully struck down a similar limit in 2016. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
5 Things Wisconsin Republicans Want To Do Last-Minute
A federal lawsuit, One Wisconsin Institute, et. al. v. Thomsen, resulted in their efforts being struck down. [Patch]
Changes to early voting, Wisconsin presidential primary would cost taxpayers millions under GOP plan
Democratic attorneys Marc Elias and Bruce Spiva have promised to bring a legal challenge to the early voting limit if it passes. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Testimony on Assembly Bills 1071, LRB 6077 and other legislation including efforts to restrict early voting
Today we are asking that you reject the proposals contained in these bills to reinstate unnecessary and unconstitutional limits on early voting.
Devil’s Advocates Radio: December 3, 2018
The Wisconsin GOP is set to make an unprecedented power grab to enhance their powers and limit Governor-elect Evers. [WRRD-AM]
After Raucous Hearing, Bills To Restrict Early Voting, Curtail Evers’ Powers Move To Full Legislature
A lawyer for the liberal One Wisconsin Institute warned against the provision of the bill that restricts early voting, saying it would be challenged in court. [Wisconsin Public Radio]
GOP lawmakers seek sweeping new restrictions on incoming Democratic attorney general
Scot Ross who is currently involved in a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s voting requirements, chastised the proposal. [Wisconsin State Journal]
Lawsuit looms over proposed limit to early voting in Wisconsin
Elias represented an affiliate of One Wisconsin Now in the case that resulted in the 2016 decision striking down previous limits to early voting. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
GOP State Lawmakers Look To Limit Early Voting In Lame-Duck Session
Analiese Eicher which has successfully sued the state over its voting laws, said she was "shocked but not surprised" GOP lawmakers introduced the plan. [Wisconsin Public Radio]
Robin Vos Republicans: ‘Too Many People Voted’
Scot Ross released the following statements and information on reported attacks on early voting planned by Republicans in their lame duck legislative session.
GOP lame-duck bills would move primary, limit early voting
Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Institute, which brought the lawsuit, issued a statement saying Republicans are trying to "rig" election rules. [Associated Press]
Wisconsin Republicans Want to Close Early Voting Sites for Weeks in Desperate Move to Clamp Down on Voters in Lameduck Session
A similar early voting clampdown was found unconstitutional and "pretextual" in a sweeping opinion in U.S. District Court, One Wisconsin Institute v. Thomsen. [MAL Contends]
Republicans Launch Another Assault on Democracy
This Republican gang has shown time and again they have no shame when it comes to rigging the rules to give themselves an unfair partisan advantage.
GOP ‘Playing with Fire’ Using Lame Duck to Rig Elections
We and our legal counsel will be vigilant in monitoring what the Republicans attempt to do with state laws on voting in this lame duck session.
2018 Election Totals Show Voters Delivered Mandate to Democrats
Voters turned out in record numbers and they handed a mandate to the Democrats who swept every statewide race on the ballot.
GOP Blames Voters Voting for Electoral Defeats, Proposes Plan to Limit Participation in 2020 State High Court Race
Republicans appear to have settled on an explanation for why they lost every statewide race on the ballot in the November 6 elections: Too many voters voted.
Scott Walker, lawmakers consider helping conservative justice before Tony Evers becomes governor
Analiese Eicher noted Republicans fought plans to hold special elections this year and complained about the cost of past recall elections. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
Wisconsin sees record participation at the ballot box for 2018 midterm elections
“The record turnout in this election shows voters vote, when given the opportunity to vote,” said Analiese Eicher, Program Director at One Wisconsin Now. [Milwaukee Independent]
33 Election Winners and Losers
Winner: One Wisconsin Now and Josh Kaul: The historically high early voting in Milwaukee and Madison were key to the victory of Kaul and Evers. [Urban Milwaukee]
Wisconsin Turns Out and (Early) Votes at Record Levels for 2018 Midterm Elections
Wisconsin voters turned out in record numbers for the 2018 midterm election sending the clear message that voters vote, when given the opportunity to vote.